Car coupling



P" 1934- .1. s. FREDRICKSON 1,953,676

CAR COUPLING Filed Jan. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Julius Fvedlx'clcsnn dtcom A ril 3, 1934- .1. a. FREDRICKSON CAR COUPLING 2 Sheei: eet 2 Filed Jam 15 31 a IZQMM ifre kson Patented Apr. 3, 1934 CAR COUPLING Julius G. Fredrickson, Grand Forks, Dak.

Application January 15, 1931, Serial No. 508,882

4 Claims.

My invention rel-ates to car couplings and has for an object to provide a coupling including a draw bar, a head and a jaw member pivoted thereto and adapted to engage the jaw member of a complemental coupling.

An object of the invention resides in providing a coupling in which the jaw members may be brought into coupling relation from either closed or open position.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a coupling in which the jaw members are positively held in coupling relation.

A still further object or" the invention resides in constructing each of the jaw members with a .hook portion extending outwardly therefrom in one direction and a lever extending outwardly from the jaw member in another direction, and in disposing said parts to cause said hook to be engaged by a jaw member of a complemental coupling when said first named jaw member is disposed in closed position to shift the jaw member laterally to effect coupling, and to cause said lever to be engaged by the complemental jaw member when the first named jaw member is in open position to swing the same into closing position.

An object of the invention resides in providing an arm pivoted to said head, for engagement with the said jaw member of the complemental coupling and to guide the jaw members into coupling position and to maintain said members in such position.

Another object of the invention resides in pivoting the jaw member to one side of said head and the arm to the other side of said head.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the jaw member with a cam adapted to engage the lever or corresponding cam of the jaw member of a coniplemental coupling for bringing the jaw members into coupling relation.

A feature of the invention resides in providing resilient means for urging said arm toward said jaw member.

An object of the invention resides in pivoting said jaw member forwardly of the head, in pivoting the arm rearwardly of the head and in disposing the resilient means between the pivots thereof.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a bolt extending through said head and arm and having a spring thereon for engagement with said arm to urge said arm toward said jaw member.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a latch bolt for engagement with said Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a car coupling illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of two couplings, illustrating the position of the parts when the couplings are being coupled with the jaw members in closed position.

Fig. 5 is aplan sectional view taken through the center of two car couplings illustrating the parts coupled position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to the Fig. 4, showing the relation to the parts when the couplings are being coupled with the jaw members in open position.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of two couplings illustrating the position of the parts as the couplings are being uncoupled.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the latch bolt used with the invention, detached from the coupling.

In thecoupling of railway cars, considerable time is lost and diificulties encountered in the use of the present coupling, due to the fact that an attendant must be at the location of the car to be coupled, to see that one or the other of the couplings is in open position. This brings about lost time and greater hazards to life than Would be the case if the car might be coupled without the attention of an attendant. The present invention, provides a coupling which may be automatically coupled with the complemental coupling, with the jaw members thereof in open or closed position and in which the parts are firmly latched when the coupling is coupled.

. For the purpose of illustrating the application of my invention, two couplings, 10 and 100 are employed which are identical in construction and two spaced parallel cars 20 and 21,

which, it has been assumed are connected to two cars to be coupled together. Due to the similarity of these couplings, only the coupling will be described in detail and the corresponding parts of the coupling 100 will be designated by reference numerals corresponding with those of coupling 10 excepting that said reference numerals will have numeral 1 prefixed to them.

The coupling 10 is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and comprises a draw bar ll, which may be of any suitable construction and which is pivoted to the car to which it is attached in the usual manner, such construction being well known in the art and forming no particular feature of the invention, has not been illustrated.

The draw bar 11, is formed at 'theouter end there of with a head 12, which is provided at the extreme forward end thereof, with two spaced ar-'- allel ears, 13 and 14 lying in substantial con-' tinuation with the outer surface of said head. Between the two ears 13 and 14, is swingably mounted-a jaw member 15, which is adapted to cooperate with the jaw member 115' of the complemental coupling 100. The jaw member 15' is constructed with a hook 16, issuing laterally therefrom and is further constructed with a lever 17 issuing rearwardly therefrom. This jaw member is pivoted to the two ears 13 and '14 by means ofa 'pintle 18; which extends through the two ears 13 and 14 and through said jaw member and which is disposed to one side of the coupling. The two ears 13 and 14 are disposed forwardly of the' h'ead 12, so that the jaw member 15 is free to be engaged by the'complemental jaw member 115.

Operating in conjunction with the jaw member 15, is a'swingingarm- 19, which is disposed'on the'side'of the'head 12 opposite'said jaw member. This arm is constructed at one end with whichare pivoted through a pintle 22 to a projection 23, formed on the'head 12 at the inner portion thereof and on the side of said head opposite ears 13 and 145' The arm19 extends forwardly of the coupling and terminates at its free end in a cam 1 upon the threaded end thereof.

portion, 24' the function of which-will be presently'explained. The arm 19 is guided for swinging movement about the pintle 22'through'a' tongue 25; formed on the'headl2which extends in the direction ofmovement of said arm; This tongue projects through a groove 26 in the arm 19, and serves to resist vertical stresses imparted to said arm. Longitudinal stresses received by the arm 19;:are transmitted through the two ears 20 and 1 21, to shoulders 2'7, formed on theprojection 23,

whichcarry the stress directly to the draw bar independently of the pintle 22.

The arm 19 is urged toward the jaw member 15', through resilient means which are'best shown 'g, in Fig. 5. Abolt 28, threaded at both ends, ex

tends through thehead 12 at a locality intermediate the pintles 18 and 22. I Thisbolt extends freely through'an opening 29 inthe ar1n 19 and projects outwardly at both ends beyond arm 19 and the head 12. A compression coil spring 30 thereon through a nut 36, screwed upon the threaded end of said bolt. The two springs, 30 and 33 serve to force the arm 19 inwardly toward the jaw member 15 and the pressure applied upon said arm, may be adjusted through the nuts 32 and 35.

The jaw member 15 is so constructed that when the hook 16 is in closed position as shown in Fig. 5, the lever 17 extends axially with respect to thedraw bar 11. The jaw member 15 is adapted to be latched in closed position through a latch bolt 37 shown in detail in Fig. 8. This latch bolt comprises a shank 38, preferably of rectangular cross section, which is adapted to be slidably supported in a vertical guideway 39 formed alo'ng' the medial plane of the head 12. The shank 38, terminates in a head 49, extending outwardly beyond head 12, and is provided with a shoulder 41, adapted to rest upon the head 12 and to limit the lowermost position of said bolt. The n'ead'eo'is constructed with an eye 42, by means of which the latch bolt may be manually raised when desired; to uncouple the cars. The raising and lowering of the latch bolt 3'7, may be accomplished through any suitable lever'mechanism or" similar devices. Such construction 'being'well knowninthe art, has not been illustrated in this application, though it can be readily comprehended that any suitable construction may be employed. The shank 38 of the latch bolt 37 is cut away as indicated at to provide an inclined cam 44', adapted to engage a complemental cam 45, formed on the end of the lever 17. Engagement of these cams moves the bolt 37 upwardly along" the guideway 39, as the lever l'l-is'moved intoclo'sing position. The shank 38 of latch bolt 37 is further cut away as indicated at 145, to provide'a' shoulder 46, which is adapted to engage 'a'complemental shoulder 47, formed on the lever- 17, to hold the jaw member 15 in olo'sedposition'. When the jaw member 15 is swung'from'open to closed position, the cam 45 engage's'thecam 44 on latch bolt 37, and raises saidlatch bolt. When the lever is in completely closed positi'on,the' shoulder 46 drops in back of the shoulder 47 and holds the parts latched as showninFig. 3'.

Attl'ie'forw'ard end of the jaw member 15, is formed a cam 48', which terminates at a point 49" at the extreme forward portion thereof and which'extends toward the point 58 of the hook 16 on one side and gradually tapers ofi on the other side as indicated at'51, to conform to the curvature of the ears 13 and 14 of head 12. The hook 16 and lever 17, are so constructed that when th'ejaw members are in open position, as shown in Fig. 7, lever 17 extends transversely with respect to' the coupling and the face 52 of the hook 16 extends obliquely with respect thereto.

The operation of my improved car coupling is as follows:

Assuming both jaw members to be closed as shown in Fig. 4, thenose 49 of the jaw member 15 is disposed between the cam 148 of coupling 100 a'ndthe cam 124 of the arm 119 thereof. In like manner, the nose 149 of jaw member 115 of coupling 100, is disposed between the cam 480i jaw'member l5 and the cam 24 of arm 19. As the parts are brought together, the two earns, 48 and i 148 engage one another and shift the two couplings laterally until the points 50 and 150 of the two hooks 16 and 116 clear one another. When this' occurs, the two jaw members slip by one another'bringing the two faces, 52 and 152 thereof rte in direct contact. During the movement of the jaw members into engaging position, the cams 51 and 151 of the couplings, engage the-cams 124 and 24 of the respective arms 119 and 19, swinging said arms outwardly against the actions against the springs 130, 133 and springs and 33. These springs serve to force the two jaw members into coupling relation as soon as the points and 150 of the hooks 16 and 11S thereof clear one another. As soon as this occurs, the two couplings are coupled together and traction afforded through the hooks 16 and 115, in the customary manner. The parts when the two couplings are properly coupled together are arranged as shown in Fig. 5.

Assuming the two jaw members 15 and 115 to be in opening position as shown in Fig. 6, the method of coupling is a follows:

As soon as the two couplings are brought together, the noses 149 and 19 of these couplings engage the cams 24 and 124 on arms 19 and 119, which swing the said jaw members inwardly as the two couplings continue to move. During the movement of the jaw members into closing position, the latch bolt 37 is raised through the action of the two cams 44 and 45. When these cams clear one another, the latch bolt 37 drops down and the shoulder 16 drops behind the shoulder 47. When the points 50 and 150 of the hooks 16 and 116 clear one another, these hooks become hooked together. Where suilicient force is exerted by the springs upon the arms, 19 and 119, the two jaw members 15 and 115 are automatical- 1y thrown into latching position. However, the force of these springs is not relied upon for this purpose. To positively cause the jaw members to become latched, the levers 17 and 117 are constructed with cam portions 53 and 153, which are adapted to be engaged by the cams 48 and 148 to positively swing the said jaw members about their pivots and into closing position. As they approach closing position the cams 44 and 45 are brought into coaction, to raise the latch bolts 38 and 138 and cause the positive latching of the jaw members.

When one of the jaw members is open and one closed, the manner of coupling is practically the same as heretofore described. In such case, the open jaw member engages a complemental arm and is moved into closing position and the said' jaw member positively brought into latching position through the cam on the complemental jaw member as previously described.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the latch bolt 37 is raised sufficiently until the two shoulders, 45 and 1"! clear one another. By drawing on one of the draw bars 11, thetwo jaw members 15 and 115 are pulled apart, the faces 52 and 152 of the hooks 16 and 116 sliding along one another in an inclined manner as shown in Fig. 7. As the two jaw members pull apart, the arms 19 and 119 are swung outwardly against the action of the springs operating in conjunctic-n therewith. When the two members finally clear one another, the bring the said jaw members into closing position, leaving the jaw members in closed position as the cars separate from one another.

My invention is highly advantageous in that an extremely simple and positive device is provided, which serves to effectively couple railway cars to one another. Considerable saving in time and operating expense will result with the .use of my invention. At the same time, safety to life and limb will be greatly increased. With my invention, it never becomes necessary to manually adjust the coupling or to enter in between the cars for any purpose in connection with the use of the coupling. The jaw members are at all times securely held in operating position, and rattling of the parts prevented during the movement of the cars.

Changes in the specific form of my invention as herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A car coupling comprising a draw bar, a head on said draw bar, a jaw member pivoted to said head on one side thereof, an arm pivoted to said head on the other side thereof and of a width throughout its ezltent equal to the thickness of the head, said arm serving to hold the jaw member of a coinplemental coupling in engagement with said first named jaw member, a tongue on said head and a slot in said arm intermediate the ends thereof for engagement therewith, said tongue holding said arm from lateral movement with respect to said head, and means extending through said arm for urging said arm toward said head.

2. A car coupling comprising a draw bar, a head on said draw bar, a jaw member pivoted to said head on one side thereof, an arm pivoted to,

said head on the other side thereof, said arm serving to hold the jaw member of a complemental coupling in engagement with said first named jaw member, a bolt extending through said head and arm, and outwardly beyond the arm, a spring on said bolt seated against said arm, a nut on the corresponding end of the bolt forming a seat for the other end of said spring, and means on said belt for engagement with said head.

3. A car coupling comprising a draw bar, a head on said draw bar, a jaw member pivoted to said head on one side thereof, an arm pivoted to said head on the other sidethereof, said arm serving to hold the jaw memberof a complemental coupling in engagement with said first named jaw member, a bolt extending through said head and arm, and projecting outwardly and beyond said head on both sides thereof, compression coil springs on both ends of said bolt seated against the arm and head and nuts on the ends of said bolt for engagement with said springs.

4. A car coupling comprising a draw bar, a head on said draw bar, a jaw member pivoted to said head on one side thereof, an arm pivoted to i said head on the other side thereof, said arm serving to hold the jaw member of a complemental coupling in engagement with said first named jaw member, a bolt extending through said head and arm, and outwardly beyond the head, a spring on said bolt seated against said head, a nut on the corresponding end of the bolt forming a seat for the other end of said spring,

and means on said bolt for engagement with said arm.

JULIUS G. FREDRICKSON. 

